Fires 'deliberately started' on flight from Birmingham

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A passenger "deliberately started" two fires during a flight carrying 200 passengers from Birmingham to Egypt, police have said.

Cabin crew tackled the fires in a toilet on the Monarch Airlines flight to Sharm el-Sheikh on 27 August.

Passengers due on the return flight were left stranded until the next day, said the airline.

No-one was injured during the episode and the Airport Policing Unit said no arrests have been made.

A Monarch Airlines spokeswoman said the A321 aircraft with 201 passengers and seven crew on board had landed safely in Sharm el-Sheikh but had been "unserviceable" due to the fires.

She said: "This has had a knock-on effect to flight ZB473, which was due to operate back to Birmingham on the same day.

"An alternative Monarch aircraft was organised and customers arrived back in Birmingham on 28 August.

"Customers were given hotel accommodation, meals and refreshments for the duration of the delay."

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "We have launched an investigation after two small fires are believed to have been deliberately started on a Birmingham flight bound for Egypt."